Wontumi to spend night in police custody after failing to meet bail conditions

The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, remains in custody despite being granted bail by the High Court in Accra.

Wontumi, who is the first accused in an ongoing illegal mining case linked to Akonta Mining Company Limited, is facing multiple charges including facilitating unlicenced mining operations and assigning mineral rights without ministerial approval. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

He was granted bail in two separate rulings. In the first ruling, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay granted him bail in the sum of GHC15 million with three sureties, two of whom must justify with landed property within the court’s jurisdiction.

In the second case, Justice Ruby Aryeetey granted Wontumi and another accused, Edward Akuoko (Operations Manager of Akonta Mining), GHC10 million bail each with two sureties, one of whom must justify with property.

Enoch Afoakwa, a member of Wontumi’s legal team, confirmed that the bail granted earlier on Tuesday, October 7, has not yet been executed.

He told Sammi Wiafe in an interview on Citi Eyewitness News, monitored by NSEMGH, that “Not yet… The judicial service workers close at 4 pm, so certainly that will be another business for tomorrow.”

He added, “We know he is with the Ghana Prisons Service, but the exact custody — as to which cell he is in — we are yet to find out.”

He explained that the legal team will return to the court on Wednesday to work with the registrar to finalise the paperwork and ensure their client’s release.

“We intend to go back to the court on [Wednesday] attend to the registrar of the court, and ensure that the needed administrative processes are duly followed to ensure the liberty of our client, who is in custody now awaiting the execution of the bail bond,” Afoakwa added.

He also expressed gratitude to the supporters of Chairman Wontumi, especially those who had offered their properties as sureties.

“We are grateful to the court and grateful to well-wishers and well-meaning friends of Mr. Bernard Antwi Boasiako who have elected with their properties to stand as surety for him,” Afoakwa said. “We will go back to court to ensure everything is properly done.”